Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

The White Bone Heart-locking Hairpin, as one of the famous magical artifacts of later generations, didn't have any fancy effects.

Its usage was very simple: after refining, one simply had to channel their True Yuan into it, aim at the target, and activate it, causing the hairpin to swiftly shoot out.

Unlike the Immortal Sword, this thing didn't require a cultivator to be distracted directing its flight; instead, it locked onto the target and followed it persistently.

If the opponent blocked with a Flying Sword or used a wide-ranging Taoism Method to attack, causing the tracking of the White Bone Heart-locking Hairpin to be interrupted, it would return to its user's side.

But, if the target was too slow to defend, and got pierced by the hairpin, they were pretty much doomed—the hairpin not only sealed meridians and acupoints, preventing the flow of True Yuan, but unless the owner recalled it, it was basically impossible to remove with external force.

Yan Yu had no doubts about Zhao Yuanzhen's ability to use the White Bone Heart-locking Hairpin effectively. The main risk was that the magical artifact indirectly enhanced the Demonic Sect Enchantress's power...

but considering that with the increasing pace of the Spiritual Energy Resurgence, even if she were to sleep all day, she would gradually recover her cultivation, it seemed there was no need to deliberately limit her power.

After all, as long as Zhao Yuanzhen was unable to utilize spells beyond her level, she was not a match for Yan Yu at the current stage.

It was essential to keep the Demonic Sect Enchantress in a constantly deterred state, so she would restrain her strength voluntarily.

After leaving Li Weiguo's office, Zhao Yuanzhen, still harboring resentment (but not daring to show it too obviously), grumbled:

"Just a hairpin... a hairpin! Do I lack a single hairpin? If this magical artifact turns out to be trash, I will..."

"If you don't want it, just say so early," said Yan Yu indifferently, "I can give it to someone else."

Zhao Yuanzhen: ?

Her naturally cunning and suspicious nature suddenly took the high ground in her mind, and her thoughts made a 180-degree turn:

From the experience in the Cultivation World, there were hardly any famous hairpin-type magical artifacts, and this little thief had admitted over the phone that "choosing this hairpin was for safety," so one could infer that this item was mediocre, at best indicating it wouldn't be the worst among many unknown artifacts, and naturally, its power wouldn't be too impressive.

But...

What if this little thief was deliberately using reverse psychology to deceive me?

If I gave up this hairpin and later it was given to someone else and proved to be very powerful... then not only would I have lost the magical artifact, but I'd also be mercilessly mocked by this thief! I might not even be able to hold my head up for the rest of my life!

As they say on TV: even a napkin should have its own value.

Anyway, I don't have any other magical artifacts on hand; might as well make do with this one for now, and if it's really garbage, I can replace it with something better later...

The thoroughly reconsidered Zhao Yuanzhen shamelessly put on another face and sighed:

"Alas, though I don't have much expectation for it, since it's a gift from you, I'll accept it reluctantly."

Yan Yu frowned, thinking, I was about to give you a harsh setback, so why did you suddenly go soft?

"You don't need to flatter me," he said impatiently, "it doesn't matter if you don't fancy this hairpin; there are plenty who do."

If Yan Yu had kept silent at that moment, Zhao Yuanzhen would have had her doubts, but his apparent indifference only reinforced her suspicions, and she quickly exclaimed:

"Who said I don't fancy it? A gift from a Dao companion... it's a token of commitment! How could it be passed on to someone else?"

"Since when did it become a token of commitment?" Yan Yu was confused by her logic, "When did I confess to you?"

Zhao Yuanzhen was taken aback for a moment, then realized that their relationship as Dao companions was more of a "marry first, love later" type, which indeed had nothing to do with a token of commitment, but the Demonic Sect Enchantress wouldn't be stumped by such an issue and quickly retorted:

"Then consider it a betrothal gift, and there's no reason to give it away."

God, now it's a betrothal gift! How did I, a young, promising unmarried man, start being asked for a betrothal gift? Why didn't you say it's for the baby shower of our unborn child?

Seeing Yan Yu's brows still tightly furrowed, Zhao Yuanzhen immediately took advantage of the moment and, using some crafty trick learned from who knows where, clung to his arm and cooed:

"Aiya, as long as I become stronger, I can help you more with conquering Mysterious Realms~ Then we can get more magical artifacts, right?"

"Your flawed logic sure is something else, huh?" Yan Yu glanced at her skeptically, "Not to criticize you, but this hairpin was actually intended for you from the start. You initially turned your nose up at it, thinking it was garbage and not wanting it, but as soon as you heard I might give it to others, your attitude took an instant 180-degree turn. Don't you feel the slightest bit embarrassed?

Is your skin made of copper, or forged from iron? Or did you eat a Rubber Fruit to be so flexible?"

Zhao Yuanzhen was at a loss for words, with no argument left, and harbored silent rage in her heart:

"This little thief has insulted me too far! Endure, just keep enduring! If I can't take it anymore, I'll fight him to the death! No, I haven't achieved success in dual cultivation yet, and his master is still watching... It's not the right time to make a move against him...

When the day comes that my opportunity ripens, I won't just return the humiliation he has inflicted upon me, I'll return it tenfold, a hundredfold, or else I, Zhao Yuanzhen, will take his surname!"

Imagining herself finally turning the tables and sitting atop Yan Yu, viciously slapping his face and asking him "What material is this cheek made of?" Zhao Yuanzhen's fantasy slowly quenched her anger, and she continued to tightly hug Yan Yu's arm closer to her chest, coquettishly saying:

"Oh, the cheek of a girl is meant to be both thin and tender, don't ask anymore. Look, I've even let my hair grow out, waiting for you to take the hairpin and put it in for me, okay~"

It has to be said that, although she was a cruel Demonic Sect Enchantress, her coquettish demeanor and tone truly carried a style and charm that modern women couldn't fake.

But Yan Yu's determination and will were astonishing, and he would not be easily seduced by such beauty, he replied with a cold laugh:

"Don't think you can bluff your way through. Words spoken and water spilled cannot be taken back, understand?"

Zhao Yuanzhen also grew irritable and coldly responded:

"I've said all the sweet nothings, and you still won't accept them, so what do you want?"

"It's simple," Yan Yu said, "Beg me. If you beg me to change my mind, then this hairpin is yours to keep."

Zhao Yuanzhen quickly pondered the situation.

She had done her share of currying favor with her master in her former life. But pleasing women and men were ultimately different matters. With women, you just need to compliment their beauty and all's well, but with men... especially a tricky character like this little thief, any flattery would probably hit the wrong spot.

What's something that all men like, that even this little thief can't resist?

After much thought, the Demonic Sect Enchantress suddenly asked:

"So, wanna get a room?"

Yan Yu: ??????????

"Hold on," he said, wordlessly raising his hand as if to say, "Don't say another word," "First off, I admit your appearance and figure are indeed attractive, but don't get too excited yet!"

Seeing Zhao Yuanzhen's delighted expression upon being complimented, Yan Yu immediately asked with a sneer:

"But we're bound to reach that step in dual cultivation eventually, which means your body is ultimately mine. Now you want to use what is already mine to trade with me?"

Zhao Yuanzhen's smile froze on her face, and after a long moment she incredulously cried out:

"Who said my body is yours! That's... a perverted possessiveness! Lewd! Indecent!"

This Demonic Sect Enchantress, not knowing where she picked up a whole mess of nonsensical stuff, Yan Yu couldn't be bothered to get to the bottom of it and said irritably:

"Sure, I'm indecent. I'll see if Lin Ning and Su Yunjin want the hairpin..."

"I didn't say you're indecent, you must have heard wrong." Mention of the hairpin treasure instantly changed Zhao Yuanzhen's face, she adopted Chen Lingyun's sweet smile and continued to butter him up, clinging to Yan Yu's arm, "Dear, think about it, this hairpin was originally for me, my yin energy was meant for you, this is an exchange that couldn't be more fair~"

"What exchange?" Yan Yu pretended not to understand, "Is a girl's body something to be traded with? I would never do such a thing not allowed by law! If we must speak of it, your yin for my yang, allowing both parties to benefit from dual cultivation, now that is a fair and reasonable exchange. So what are you planning to exchange for this hairpin?"

Left with nothing to say, Zhao Yuanzhen could only glare at him furiously, thinking to herself:

"This little thief has insulted me too far today! Wahhh, when one day I turn the tables, I will definitely turn his shameful acts into a short essay and post it online for a fierce exposure, calling on sisters everywhere to condemn him!"

Well, maybe there's no need to wait until turning the tables; couldn't she just start writing now?

However, the Spiritual Energy Resurgence was not yet declassified, so words like 'dual cultivation' and 'magical treasure' couldn't be mentioned, making it impossible to clearly describe what had happened... Better to endure for now.

A true immortal is one who can bend and stretch!